Method of and means for agitating water in ice-making apparatus



Dec. 4 1923. H 1,476,220

5. REYNoLDs METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR AGITATING WATER IN ICE MAKING APPARATUS Filed April 18, 1922 WIIIIIIA Patented Dec. 4, 1%23.

1,476,220 rarer race.

IBlilIEt'lv REYNOLDS, 0F HAMILTON, SE10.

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR;- AGITATING 'i -HXTEB IN ICE-MAKING APPARATUS.

mutation filed April is, 1922. Serial no. 554,814.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERT rinrnonns, residing at Hamilton, county t tier, State of bhio, a citizen of the United States. have invented certain new and useful linprcrycments in Methods of and Means for Agitating Water in IceMaking Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ice making apparatus and particularly to those devices designed to make pure ice from ordinary city water. j V

In the manufacture ofartificial ice :trom ordinary city water, i is necessary to provide means for purifying the ice in order that the impurities will not freezein the ice and cause the same to be cloudy. It has been found that by agitating the water, Within the ice can, that the impurities will collect in the water, the water changing into pure clear ice. W'hen the water has changed to ice, except for a small core in the middle of the can, this water with the impurities may be removed and distilled water substituted. The result is a clear blocl: of ice.

Various means have been provided for agitating the water within the ice cans, among which is an air supply tube placed in the can. By the passing of air down to the bottom of the can and the movement of the bubbles up from the bottom to the wat r snrtace, the Water is kept in a constant stare oi agitation.

At times, particularly during very cold weather, great difficulty has been expenenced in preventing the formation of ice within the air supply pipe, near the bottom and the consequent stopping of the air sr ply.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of an improved method of treat ing the air to be supplied to the ice tank agitating system whereby the stoppage of the air supply pipes, by the formation of ice, will be prevented.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus to supply moisture to the air supply thereby preventing the formation of ice in the air supply pipe.

Referring to the drawing wherein is illustrated an embodiment of my invention,

Figure 1 represents a diagrammatic elevational view of the apparatus illustrating my invention and showin such parts of the ice making apparatus as cooperate therewith.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view 01 the strainer, and i Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the perforated pipe 31 shown in Figure 1.

1O designates the ice or brine tank. Within the brine tank are placed the ice cans 11 which contain the fresh water which is frozen into the ice blocks. i

A blower 12 is provided, having an air intake 13 which is outside the building. The air intake 18 is a part of an air conduit 14 leading to the blower. An auxiliary inlet 15 is provided to enable the operator to admit air at room temperature, if desired, to control the temperature of the air in a man: ner to be later described." 7

The air after passing through the blower 12 passes through the main: air line 16 to the branch line 17 and finally toithev agie tator pipes 18, there being one located in each ice can 11.

At a convenient place in the main water supply, a strainer fitting 19 is located. This fitting has a plug 20 located in its bottom. The plug 20 is screw threaded into the fitting 19. Within a cylindrical portion 21 of the fitting 19 is located a strainer 22 having suitable pertorations for permitting the passage of water. A pipe 23 extends into the body portion of the strainer and leads along the feed line 24 to the needle valve 25. From the needle valve 25, the feed line 26 extends to the sight feed glass 28, into which the end 29 of the pipe 26 extends and which is in such. a position that the dropping of the water may be observed. The sight feed glass 28 is provided at its bottom with a valve 30 which admits the water to a perforated nozzle 31 which extends into the air feed line 16. A thermometer is located in the main air feed line 16 to indicate the temperature of the air therein.

In the operation of my invention, the air passes from the intakes 13 and 15 through the air inlet line 14: to the blower 12 and thence by the air feed line 16 to the agitator pipes 18 out the lower ends thereof and up to the surface of the water in the ice cans. The water passes from the water supply line into the strainer, thence out to the feed line past the needle valve and into the sight feed glass. The amountpassing the sight glass is controlled by adjusting the needle valve 25. The water then passes out ofthe bottom of the sight glass. and into the perforated tube 31. It passes from the pen iterations in the tube 31 into the air as moisture. V 1 7 By varying the adjustment of the needle valve 25 and the control valve 3"? of the inlet port 15, I am able to control the temperature and the amount of moisture admitted to the air line.

lVhile I have described an embodiment of my invention in detail, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit mys'eli to the exact structure shown and I described, but that modifications and changes may be made Without dcpartingfrom the'spirit of my inventionand Within the scope o'f'the ap ended claims.

aving described my invention, what I claim is 1. The method of agitating Water in an ice can of an artificial ice making apparatus, comprising the evaporation of Water into air and admitting the air with its con tained moisture near the bottom of the ice can and in position to rise to the surface ofthe water in the can.

2. An artificial ice making apparatus cont prising amain air conduit, an air conduitleading from the main air conduit to the interior of an ice can, a Water conduit for supplying moisture to the air in the air conduit.

3. An artificial ice making apparatus cont prising a main air conduit, a conduit leadmg from the main airconduit to the interior of an ice can, a conduit for supplying moisture to the air in the conduit, a sight feed glass in the moisture supplying conduit and means for controlling the amount of moisture to be admitted.

evaporating Water and delivering the vapor to the air Within the conduit.

5. An artificial ice making apparatus comprising a main air conduit, a conduit leading from the main air conduit to the interior of an ice can, a main supply of Water, a conduit leading from the main supply or" Water, a strainer in'said Watercondui't, a needle valve for controlling the supply of" Water passing through the Water conduit, a sight feed for observing the quantity of Water passing through the conduit and means for delivering the Water to the air in the form of vapor. V

In'testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

BERT REYNOLDS. 

